Arunachal Pradesh: the historical dispute behind India's border tensions with China

The India-China border dispute in Arunachal Pradesh has roots that go back more than a century. At the centre of it is the McMahon Line, which emerged from the 1914 Shimla Convention between British India and Tibet — an agreement China never signed. As Chinese troops reportedly deviate from established patrolling patterns along the Line of Actual Control, India is revisiting its historical records, maps and negotiations. In an interview, Central Tibetan Administration President Penpa Tsering explains why the historical relationship between India, Tibet and China matters to the present border dispute. Could India's historical ties with Tibet influence its approach to negotiations with China? And is New Delhi reconsidering its Tibet policy?

Chief of Bureau, Delhi, Namrata Biji Ahuja tells the story in her latest story for THE WEEK.